Devices and systems for lung treatment

ABSTRACT

Devices, systems, and methods for measuring the diameter of an airway in a human or animal subject are disclosed. The device comprises a flexible catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end. Flexible sizing elements are disposed along and extend approximately orthogonally from the catheter body. The sizing elements have different heights from one another and are configured to fit through the working channel of a bronchoscope. Devices, systems, and methods for redirecting airflow through a lung airway are also disclosed. The method comprises introducing into the airway a catheter comprising a distal end, a proximal end and an elongated portion therebetween, wherein the distal end comprises an airway closing mechanism, and wherein the proximal end comprises an actuator to actuate the airway closing mechanism; and actuating the airway closing mechanism to at least partially close the airway.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/174,565 (Attorney Docket No. 20920-761.201), filed Jun. 30, 2011 (nowU.S. Pat. No. ______), which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) toU.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/360,809, entitledDevices and Systems for Lung Treatment, filed Jul. 1, 2010, the fulldisclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to devices and methods for treatinglung disease.

2. Description of the Related Art

Lung diseases are a problem affecting several millions of people.Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), for example, is asignificant medical problem affecting 16 million people or about 6% ofthe U.S. population. Lung cancer, as another example, is among the mostprevalent forms of cancer, and causes more than 150,000 deaths per year.

One of the prevalent forms of treating COPD is the use of lung volumereduction (LVR) techniques. One of the emerging methods of LVR involvesthe endoscopic introduction of prostheses or implants into pulmonarypassageways. Such a method and prosthesis is described, for example, inU.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/682,986. The prosthesis willtypically restrict air flow in the inhalation direction, causing theadjoining lung compartment to collapse over time. The prosthesis, alsocalled an endobronchial valve (EBV), is intended to control airflow intoa lung compartment and may consist of a one-way, silicone, duckbillvalve attached to a metallic self-expanding retainer that is coveredwith a polymer membrane. The EBV is implanted in the target airway usinga delivery catheter inserted through the working channel of abronchoscope. Upon implantation, the EBV allows distal air to vent fromthe isolated lung compartment (typically a lobe or segment) duringexhalation but does not allow refilling of this compartment duringinhalation. With each respiratory cycle, the amount of air in the targetlung compartment is reduced (pneumoreduction), allowing betterfunctioning lung compartments to take over more of the work ofbreathing. This method has been suggested as an effective approach fortreating lung compartments that are not subject to collateralventilation.

To ensure a good fit of an EBV and to prevent EBV migration from theoriginal location in the airway where it is implanted, it is necessaryto select an appropriately sized EBV for the target airway. Therefore,it is imperative to place the EBV implant in an airway that has adiameter within the EBV size range and that has is long enough toaccommodate the EBV. Catheter-based devices for vascular measurementsare unsuitable or too complex for measuring lung passageway diametersfor EBV implantation. U.S. Pat. No. 6,450,976, for example, discloses adevice to be used as an attachment to a catheter for measuring length aswell as vascular diameter. The device uses rotation of an outer barrelrelative to an inner tubular member to effect measurement. Measurementis provided by radially movable elements that contact the vascular wall.U.S. Pat. No. 5,919,147 discloses a similar catheter-based device thatuses radially moving arms that expand out of the end of a tube tomeasure the diameter of a vessel. Measurement is made via graduationslocated axially at the proximal end of the catheter. Contact between theradial arms and the vessel must be detected by the surgeon in both theabove devices. One drawback of these devices is their complexconstruction and operation. Since each requires rotation in order toeffectuate measurement, they require two handed operation. In addition,their suitability for use with a bronchoscope for the specific case ofairway diameter measurement is not established.

Therefore, a need exists for a quick and convenient method and devicefor determining whether an airway is suitable for placement of an EBV orother implant for effective LVR and/or for selecting an appropriatelysized EBV or other implant for use in a given airway. Ideally, such amethod/device could be used to either approximate a diameter and/orlength of a potential target airway or could be used to confirm orselect a size of EBV that is appropriate for a given airway. At leastsome of these objectives will be met by the embodiments describedherein.

In certain situations, for example when an airway is too big or toosmall for EBV placement, another method to assist the lung volumereduction may be desirable. Indeed, several existing methods exist forendobronchial lung volume reduction (ELVR), with and without the use ofrestriction devices. U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0061322, forexample, discloses a method in which the airway is sealed after air inthe lung compartment is aspirated using an occlusion catheter. U.S. Pat.No. 6,997,189 discloses a method of contracting the diseased lung tissueusing anchoring elements attached to cords, which are pulled through acatheter. U.S. Patent Publication No. 2007/0221230 discloses an implantthat is used to bend a portion of the airway to effect lung volumereduction. Other methods of treatment have been disclosed that involvecompletely sealing the airway. These include use of plug-formingsubstances such as swellable collagen or metal as disclosed in U.S. Pat.Nos. 6,287,290, 6,878,141, 6,709,401 and 7,186,259. Installation of plugdevices or obturators is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,144,392 and U.S.Patent Publication No. 2007/005083. Further methods of sealing lungpassageways include inducement of fibrosis in the bronchial tubes byintroducing an irritant substance such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.6,682,520, U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2006/0130830 and 2006/0276807.

Despite the innovations in endoscopic lung volume reduction, furtherimprovements and alternative methods and systems would still bedesirable. The embodiments described herein seek to achieve at leastsome of the objectives described above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present application discloses devices and methods for assessing thediameter of an airway to select a size of a pulmonary implant forplacing in the airway and/or for confirming that a size of implantselected will work in that airway. The devices and methods may also beused to actually measure or approximate a diameter of the airway.

In one aspect of the present invention, an airway sizing device mayinclude a flexible catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end.First and second flexible sizing elements are disposed along and extendapproximately orthogonally from the catheter body. The sizing elementshave different heights from one another and are configured to fitthrough the working channel of a bronchoscope. In one embodiment, thefirst sizing element has a first height corresponding to a maximumdiameter of a prosthesis to be implanted in the airway, and the secondsizing element has a second height corresponding to a minimum diameterof the prosthesis.

The first sizing element may include two flexible tabs disposedapproximately opposite one another across the catheter body, and thesecond sizing element may include two flexible tabs disposedapproximately opposite one another across the catheter body. From thetip of one tab across the catheter body to the tip of the opposite tabmay be referred to as a “height” of a sizing element. In one embodiment,the sizing elements are disposed proximally along the catheter bodyrelative to the distal end, and a distance between the distal end andthe sizing elements corresponds to a length of the prosthesis to beimplanted in the airway.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method for selecting asize of a pulmonary implant to be implanted an airway in a human oranimal subject may include: inserting a bronchoscope into the airway;advancing an elongate airway measuring device through a channel in thebronchoscope to expose within the airway a distal end of the measuringdevice and first and second flexible sizing elements disposed near thedistal end and extending approximately orthogonally relative to alongitudinal axis of the measuring device, where the sizing elementshave different heights from one another; observing, using thebronchoscope, the flexible sizing elements in relation to a wall formingthe airway; and selecting the size of the pulmonary implant based on theobservation of the sizing elements.

In one embodiment, the observing step comprises observing whether thesizing elements touch a wall of the airway. In another embodiment, theobserving step comprises observing the flexible sizing elements inrelation to the distal end of the catheter.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method of redirectingairflow through a lung airway may involve: introducing into the airway acatheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and an airway closingmechanism at or near the distal end, wherein the airway closingmechanism is selected from the group consisting of a stapler, a sutureapplier, a clip applier, an energy delivery device and a chemicaldelivery device; and using an actuator at or near the proximal end ofthe catheter to activate the airway closing mechanism to at leastpartially close the airway. The airway may be completely or partiallyclosed. The method may further include choosing the airway from amongmultiple airways based on a determination of the presence of collateralventilation. In various embodiments, the closing mechanism may involvestapling, suturing, clipping, ablating, cryogenically treating, applyingother forms of energy, or the like.

In some embodiments, the method may further include activating a lungcompartment collapsing mechanism to collapse a lung compartmentconnected to the airway. In various embodiments, the collapsingmechanism may include a staple, a clip applier, a chemical sealant, aone-way flow element, a suturing string, a suction tube, an ablationdevice, a cryogenic treatment device, another form of energy deliverydevice, or the like. The method may also include activating a lungcompartment collapsing mechanism to collapse a lung compartmentconnected to the airway. In various embodiments, the collapsingmechanism may be a staple, a clip applier, a chemical sealant, a one-wayflow element, a suturing string, a suction tube, an ablation device, acryogenic treatment device, another form of energy delivery device, orthe like.

Further aspects and embodiments of the present invention are set forthherein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention has other advantages and features which will be morereadily apparent from the following detailed description of theinvention and the appended claims, when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A shows a bronchial sizing catheter according to one embodiment;

FIG. 1B shows a detailed view of the measuring elements of the bronchialsizing catheter;

FIG. 2 shows the bronchial sizing catheter in use inside a passageway ofa lung;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an airway closing device in accordance withone embodiment;

FIG. 4A is a diagram showing the introduction of the airway closingdevice into a target airway;

FIG. 4B is a diagram showing the closing of the target airway;

FIG. 4C shows the suturing of the target airway; and

FIGS. 4D and 4E show full and partial closing of the target airwayrespectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Although the detailed description contains many specifics, these shouldnot be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but merely asillustrating different examples and aspects of the invention. Variousmodifications, changes and variations may be made in the disclosedembodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

Airway Sizing Device. In one embodiment, an airway (or “bronchial”)sizing device includes a catheter with sizing elements, as describedfurther below. The sizing device is used for assessing one or more siteswithin a lung (“airways” or “air passageways”) to determine whether theyare suitable for implantation of an implant, such as an endobronchialvalve (EBV) and/or to select a size of EBV or other implant for a targetairway. The bronchial sizing catheter facilitates accurate placement ofa correctly sized implant (or “prosthesis”) to facilitate a suitable fitwithin the passageway and reduce chances of migration of the prosthesis.Prior to implantation of the prosthesis, the sizing catheter istypically introduced into an airway via a viewing scope such as abronchoscope. The sizing catheter comprises sizing elements and/or adepth marker, which are viewable via the viewing scope. The sizingelements and/or the depth marker are viewed via the viewing scope todetermine if the airway is suitable for a prosthesis of a given size.Thereafter, the prosthesis is implanted in the target airway, typicallyusing a flexible delivery catheter that is guided to the target airwayby inserting it through the working channel of a bronchoscope.

Referring to FIG. 1A, one embodiment of an airway sizing device 100includes a catheter body 101 having a proximal end 102 and a distal end103. The proximal end 102 may optionally include a handle (not shown). Asmall sizing element 110 and a large sizing element 111 are disposedalong the catheter body 101, closer to the distal end 103 than theproximal end 102. The sizing elements 110, 111 help a userassess/approximate a diameter of a target airway to help select a sizefor an EBV or other implant to be placed in the airway. The sizingelements are shown in this embodiment near distal end 103, but inalternative embodiments they may be disposed at any suitable locationalong the catheter body 101. In this embodiment, the sizing elements110, 111 are flexible tabs that extend radially outward from thelongitudinal axis of the catheter body 101. Flexibility allows the tabsto collapse along the side of the catheter body 101 during advancementof the sizing device 100 through a working channel of a bronchoscope orother delivery device.

In the embodiment shown, the catheter body 101 includes a distal portion112 that extends between the sizing elements 110, 111 and the distal end103. In this embodiment, the distal portion 112 is approximately as longas an EBV (or other implant in alternative embodiments) to be implantedin an airway. Thus, the distal portion 112 may be used as a depth gauge,as will be described further below.

Referring now to FIG. 1B, the sizing elements 110 and 111 and the depthmarker 112 are shown in greater detail. In the embodiment shown, thesizing elements comprise two sets of radially extending tabs 110 and111. The tabs making up the small sizing element 110 are set 180 degreesapart from each other, so that the small sizing element 110 can be saidto have a “height” measured from the tip of one tab across the catheterbody 101 to the tip of the opposite tab. (Although the word “height” isused herein to describe a measurement of a sizing element from a tip ofone tab to a tip of another tab disposed across the catheter body 101,the term “length” could be easily substituted for the term “height.”) Inone embodiment, the height of the small sizing element 110 maycorrespond to a minimum diameter that an EBV or other implant must haveto fit within a given airway Similarly, the tabs making up the largesizing elements 111 are set 180 degrees apart from each other and haveanother, larger height measured from tip to tip. This larger height maycorrespond to a maximum diameter of an EBV or other implant that may beimplanted in a given airway. The sizing elements 110, 111 are made ofany flexible polymer so that they can fit through a working channel of abronchoscope and then unfurl to assume their full heights once they arefree of the working channel and exposed in a lung passageway. Thematerial of the sizing elements is also intended to be sufficiently softand flexible so as to not cause trauma to the lung tissue duringintroduction, measurement and removal. Optionally, the sizing elementsmay be of a different color than the rest of the catheter body tofacilitate viewing via the viewing scope.

Some types of pulmonary implants, such as some EBVs, expand upondeployment. For example, some EBVs are essentially Nitinol, expandablestents, covered with a polymer and including a polymeric valve attachedto the inner wall of the stent body. The EBV is typically housed in adelivery device in a compressed or collapsed state, and when it isemitted from the delivery device it expands to a deployed configurationand diameter. In this deployed configuration, the EBV exerts a pressureagainst an airway wall, which holds it in place within the airway.Typically, an EBV of this type may be suitable for use airways having arange of diameters, due to its ability to expand. For example, one sizeof EBV may fit in airways having diameters between about 3 mm and about5 mm, and another size of EBV may fit in airways having diametersbetween about 4 mm about 6 mm. Generally, therefore, the sizing device100 described herein is used to assess whether and EBV in itsexpanded/deployed configuration will fit appropriately within an airway.Of course, there are other types of pulmonary implants, and the sizingdevice 100 in various embodiments may be used in conjunction with anumber of such implants. Generally, the sizing device 100 will assessairway size to determine whether a given implant will work in itsdeployed state in that airway.

In various embodiments, the sizing elements 110, 111 may have any of anumber of suitable “heights.” For example, the small sizing element 110may range in height from between about 2 mm to about 6 mm and ideallyfrom between about 3 mm to about 5 mm. The larger sizing element mayrange in height from between about 3 mm to about 8 mm and ideallybetween about 4 mm and about 6 mm. Additionally, in various embodiments,the sizing device 100 may include more than two sizing elements. Forexample, for more detailed airway diameter approximations, three or moresizing elements may be included. Also, in some embodiments a kit may beprovided with multiple sizing devices 100, with each sizing device 100having differently sized sizing elements. For example, if there are twosizes (diameters) of EBV available for use in a patient, two differentsizing devices 100 may be provided in a kit. A user may view a potentialtarget airway using a bronchoscope, may estimate which size of EBV wouldbe ideal for that airway, and then may use the sizing device 100 thatcorresponds to that EBV diameter to confirm that it will be the best EBVsize for that airway. If the user's first estimate is incorrect, he/shemay use the second sizing device 100 to confirm that the other size ofEBV would actually be better. This is only one example, of course, andin various embodiments any number and combination of sizes of sizingelements 100 may be provided.

In addition to assessing the diameter of a target airway, the sizingcatheter 100 may also be used to determine whether the airway is longenough for implantation of an EBV or other pulmonary implant. If theairway shorter than the length of an EBV, for example, the EBV might notimplant firmly within the airway upon deployment and thus might moreeasily be coughed out or “migrate” (move to another location in theairways/lungs). In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the lengthof the distal portion 112 is approximately as long as the length of anEBV to be implanted in the airway (or other implant in alternativeembodiments). In use, the physician may advance the sizing device 100until the extreme distal end 103 contacts a branching section at the endof the target airway. If the sizing elements 110, 111 are located withinthe airway when the distal end 103 abuts the branch, then the airway islong enough to accept the EBV or other implant. If the sizing elements110, 111 are outside of (proximal to the proximal end of) the airway,then the airway may be too short for implanting the EBV or otherimplant. Thus, as mentioned above, the distal portion 112 of thecatheter body 101 may be used as a depth gauge to determine that asufficient deployment zone exists for placement of a prosthesis at thedesired location in the lung passageway. Optionally, the distal portion112 may be of a different color than the rest of the catheter body 101,such as a color that contrasts with the color of airway tissue, tofacilitate viewing through the bronchoscope.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the sizing elements 110, 111may be positioned at a different location along the catheter body 101,for example farther distal than those shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. Such anembodiment may not include a distal portion 112 that acts as a depthgauge but may instead include a depth marker on the catheter body 101that is visible through a bronchoscope and that is positioned proximalto the distal end 103 by a length that corresponds to a length of an EBVor other pulmonary implant to be implanted in the airway.

With reference now to FIG. 2, in use, the sizing catheter 100 istypically introduced through the working channel of a bronchoscope 120to expose the sizing elements 110, 111 within the target airway B.sub.2.The sizing elements 110, 111 and the distal portion 112 may then be usedto assess the size of the target airway B.sub.2 and its suitability fora given EBV or other pulmonary implant. Or, in other words, the size ofthe airway may be assessed to select an appropriate size of pulmonaryimplant to be used. This is shown in greater detail in FIG. 2, where thesizing catheter 100 is shown inserted through the working channel of thebronchoscope 120, which has been guided into a target passageway. Thesizing elements 110, 111 are sized to tell a user that a particular EBVor other implant, in its deployed state, will fit within that airway.Typically, in the embodiment shown, if the tips on the tabs of thesmaller sizing element 110 are touching the airway wall, the EBV orimplant size that has been selected is too big (i.e., has too large of adeployed diameter) for that airway. If, on the other hand, the tips ofthe smaller sizing element 110 are not touching the airway wall but thetips of the larger sizing element tabs 111 are touching the wall, thenthe EBV or other implant size that has been selected is suitable forthat airway. If the larger sizing element tips 111 are not touching thewall, then the EBV or implant has a diameter that is too small for thatairway. In this way, a user can quickly assess an airway diameterrelative to a selected implant size and either confirm that the implantsize is correct, select a different implant size, use a different sizingdevice to confirm that a different implant size will work, or decide notto insert an implant at all in that airway.

In any embodiments, the user may use the airway sizing device 100 notjust to select a size of an EBV or other pulmonary implant or confirmthat a selected size is suitable but also to actually measure orapproximate a diameter of the target airway. For example, if the smallersizing element 110 has a height of 4 mm and its tips just barely touch awall of an airway, the user may approximate that the airway is about 4mm in diameter.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the bronchoscope 120 is placed in abronchus with three sub-branches B.sub.1, B.sub.2 and B.sub.3 stemmingtherefrom. As an example, B.sub.2 has been chosen as the targetpassageway. To assess suitability of B.sub.2 for placement of animplant, the distal end 103 of the catheter 100 is introduced into theostium (or further) of B.sub.2 via the bronchoscope and thereafterobserved. As shown in FIG. 2, the larger sizing element tabs 111 havecontacted the airway walls and are shown bent, whereas the smallersizing element tabs 110 do not contact the passageway wall, and areunbent. Such an observation indicates that the diameter of the targetpassageway is between the maximum and minimum limits of the EBV or otherpulmonary implant that has been selected for implantation. Thus, B.sub.2would be determined to be suitable for implantation of the prosthesis.In contrast, if the smaller sizing element 110 were bent against thepassageway wall, it would show that the selected prosthesis was too bigfor the passageway. Similarly, if neither the smaller element 110 northe larger element 111 touched the passageway wall, it would show thatthe selected prosthesis was too small for the passageway.

As also evident in FIG. 2, the sizing elements 110, 111 are within thetarget airway, so the length of the airway is sufficient to accept animplant. (The distal branching against which the distal end 103 of thesizing device 100 is abutting is not visible in FIG. 2.) Therefore, inthe example shown in FIG. 2, the airway B.sub.2 appears to be suitablefor implanting a prosthesis of the size calibrated to the catheter. Thisobservation can be easily made by direct visualization through thebronchoscope 120.

Optionally, the sizing device 100 may be configured to carry and deployone or more prostheses at the site being measured. Alternatively, thesizing device 100 may be configured just for sizing and may be withdrawnprior to introduction of a delivery catheter configured to carry anddeploy a prosthesis.

The above embodiment was illustrated using two sets of sizing elements110, 111 that are axially placed 90 degrees apart from each other.Alternatively, in other embodiments, any other angle convenient forbronchoscopic measurement can be used. Alternatively, additional sets ofelements can be used on additional axes to represent more sizecompatibilities, for example, if prostheses of different sizes are to beimplanted within the same lung segment.

Airway Suturing Device. With reference now to FIG. 3, in anotherembodiment, an endoscopic airway closing device 300 may include anactuator 310 disposed at or near the proximal end of the device 300, anairway closing mechanism 330 disposed at or near the distal end of thedevice 300, and a delivery shaft 320, between the proximal and distalends of the device 300. Actuator 310 comprises controls for activatingthe airway closing mechanism 330. Delivery shaft 320 houses internalmechanisms that communicate actuation from actuator 310 to closingmechanism 330. The airway closing mechanism 330 may be any mechanism orimplement suitable for closing the airway, such as a suture or staple.Optionally, a lung compartment collapsing mechanism (not shown) could beprovided at the distal end in addition to the airway closing mechanism330. Such a lung compartment collapsing mechanism may include but is notlimited to a suture, staple, vacuum suction, or the like. The actuatorfor this mechanism would also be located at the proximal end of thedevice. Optionally, prior to use of the closing device 300, a suitablelocation for airway closing may be determined by measuring collateralventilation as disclosed in co pending U.S. Patent Publication Nos.2003/0051733, 2006/0264772 and 2008/0200797, all of which areincorporated herein by reference.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A-4E, a method for delivering the airway closingmechanism 330 is shown. As shown in FIG. 4A, once a location is chosen,the endoscopic airway closing device 300 may be delivered to the targetairway through a bronchoscope 200, such that the airway closingmechanism 330 is delivered to the desired airway closing point.Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4B, the airway closing mechanism 330 isactivated to close the target airway. The airway closing mechanism 330produces a constriction C. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4C, asuture 340 (or alternatively any other suitable closing implement) isdeployed from the airway closing mechanism 330 to constrict the airpassageway. In various embodiments, an airway may be closed using anysuitable closure means, such as but not limited to stapling, suturing,clipping, ablating and/or cryogenically treating.

Referring to FIG. 4D, once closed the airway is closed, the airwayclosing device 300 may be withdrawn, leaving a closed airway and thesuture 340 (or other closing implement, or in some embodiments noimplement). The suture 340 has acted to close the airway and remains inthe airway after the device 300 has been withdrawn. Once the airway hasbeen sutured or stapled, the resulting airway restriction producesatelectasis over a period of time. Also, as shown in FIGS. 4D and 4E,the airway may either be completely closed (FIG. 4D) or partially closed(FIG. 4E) so that a narrow passage P is available for fluid exchangealong the airway. When the airway is completely closed and that airwayleads to a target lung compartment that is not subject to collateralventilation, the closing will lead to a gradual collapse of the diseasedlung portions distal to the closing point. The collapse occurs becausethe closing causes the air trapped in the compartment to diffuse outthrough the capillaries. In the case of partial closing, it is expectedto lead to hypoxia in the portions of the lung fed by the airway, whichwould also lead to a gradual shrinkage of the diseased lung tissuetherein. In both cases, the shrinkage or collapse of the diseasedportions of the lung often improves the function of the healthierportions of the lung.

Optionally, the lung compartment that the airway feeds is collapsed byan additional collapsing mechanism prior to or contemporaneously withthe closing of the airway. For example, after a lung compartment hasbeen determined to exhibit collateral ventilation, a lung compartmentcollapsing mechanism may be used to evacuate and collapse the lungcompartment distal to the point of intended airway closing. For example,a vacuum may be provided via a suction tube to evacuate and collapse thelung compartment. Thereafter, the airway closing mechanism 330, with orwithout a closing implement such as the suture 340, may be used to closethe airway.

Although certain embodiments of the disclosure have been described indetail, certain variations and modifications will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art, including embodiments that do not provide all thefeatures and benefits described herein. It will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that the present disclosure extends beyond thespecifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative or additionalembodiments and/or uses and obvious modifications and equivalentsthereof. In addition, while a number of variations have been shown anddescribed in varying detail, other modifications, which are within thescope of the present disclosure, will be readily apparent to those ofskill in the art based upon this disclosure. It is also contemplatedthat various combinations or subcombinations of the specific featuresand aspects of the embodiments may be made and still fall within thescope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understoodthat various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can becombined with or substituted for one another in order to form varyingmodes of the present disclosure. Thus, it is intended that the scope ofthe present disclosure herein disclosed should not be limited by theparticular disclosed embodiments described above. For all of theembodiments described above, the steps of any methods need not beperformed sequentially.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for selecting a size of a pulmonaryimplant to be implanted in an airway in a human or animal subject, thedevice comprising: a flexible catheter body having a proximal end and adistal end; a first flexible sizing element and a second flexible sizingelement disposed along and extending approximately orthogonally from thecatheter body, wherein the first and second sizing elements havedifferent heights from one another, and wherein the first and secondsizing elements are configured to fit through the working channel of abronchoscope.
 2. A device as in claim 1, wherein the first sizingelement has a first height corresponding to a maximum diameter of thepulmonary implant, and the second sizing element has a second heightcorresponding to a minimum diameter of the pulmonary implant.
 3. Adevice as in claim 2, wherein the first sizing element comprises twoflexible tabs disposed approximately opposite one another across thecatheter body, and wherein the second sizing element comprises twoflexible tabs disposed approximately opposite one another across thecatheter body.
 4. A device as in claim 3, wherein the sizing elementsare disposed proximally along the catheter body relative to the distalend, and wherein a distance between the distal end and the sizingelements corresponds to a length of the pulmonary implant.
 5. A deviceas in claim 1, further comprising a depth marker disposed along thecatheter body at a distance from the distal end correspondingapproximately to a length of a prosthesis to be implanted in the airway.6. A method for selecting a size of a pulmonary implant to be implantedan airway in a human or animal subject, the method comprising: insertinga bronchoscope into the airway; advancing an elongate airway measuringdevice through a channel in the bronchoscope to expose within the airwaya distal end of the measuring device and first and second flexiblesizing elements disposed near the distal end and extending approximatelyorthogonally relative to a longitudinal axis of the measuring device,wherein the sizing elements have different heights from one another;observing, using the bronchoscope, the flexible sizing elements inrelation to a wall forming the airway; and selecting the size of thepulmonary implant based on the observation of the sizing elements. 7.The method of claim 6, wherein the selecting step comprises: selecting asmallest size of the pulmonary implant if both the first and secondflexible sizing elements are touching the wall during the observingstep; selecting an intermediate size of the pulmonary implant if thefirst flexible sizing element is not touching the wall and the secondflexible element is touching the wall during the observing step; andselecting a largest size of the pulmonary implant if neither the firstnor the second flexible sizing element is touching the wall during theobserving step
 8. The method of claim 6, further comprising: observingthat both the distal end and the sizing elements of the measuring deviceare located within the airway; and confirming, based on the observationof the distal end and sizing elements, that the airway is long enoughfor the pulmonary implant to be implanted therein.